| Photographic Lenses - A perspective from an avid | | | | camera bodies with you. The zoom camera lens is |
| shutterbug | | | | not limited to one focal length but has movable |
| Have you ever wondered why photographs turn | | | | elements in the lens that allow for multiple ranges. |
| out different than what you saw through the | | | | Zoom photographic lenses are available in many |
| viewfinder? Why is my photography blurry or out | | | | sizes but the typical lengths give you anywhere |
| of focus? How do I capture more of the subject | | | | from 35mm - 70mm and 80mm - 200mm. I |
| area in the photo? How can I get closer to the | | | | recommend these two lengths for the weekend |
| subject? Why is the photograph darker than | | | | hobbyist so that a full range from 35mm - |
| suspected? I have had these questions over the | | | | 200mm can be achieved. These lenses can be |
| years and have studied photography lenses so | | | | expensive especially if the aperture is under F/4.0. |
| that I can select the most appropriate camera | | | | They are typically not used in low lighting |
| and camera lens for my subjects. | | | | conditions or with motion photography unless you |
| Today, with the most wonderful world of | | | | are shooting in daylight with sunny conditions. For |
| photography , and the technology at hand, it is | | | | most photography hobbyists, the 80mm - |
| much easier to shoot those prize photos even for | | | | 200mm works great for sideline photographs and |
| the weekend shutterbug. But, if you understand | | | | has enough focal length to capture images such |
| even a few basics your photographs can turn out | | | | as wildlife from a distance. |
| much better than you anticipated. It has become | | | | 4. Telephoto Telephoto camera lenses have a |
| really easy for anyone to pick up a point and | | | | focal length that is longer than a normal 50mm |
| shoot fixed lens digital camera and take a great | | | | lens. The longer the length of the telephoto |
| photo. With the influx of many high end, high | | | | camera lens the more magnification you can get |
| megapixel cameras available for under $200.00, | | | | and the closer you can draw near to your |
| anybody can put memories in their pocket. | | | | subject. These camera lenses differ from the |
| I started out shooting photography and using | | | | zoom in that they are fixed and cannot provide |
| several types of photography lenses in the early | | | | the photographer a range of lengths. Most |
| 1980's. My uncle introduced me to Pentax SLR | | | | telephotos are used where the subject is static |
| equipment as he had a wholesale representative | | | | and situations where you are restricted to |
| contact in Denver. I was able to purchase | | | | keeping your distance. They usually come with a |
| thousands of dollars worth of equipment for | | | | smaller aperture somewhere around F/4.0. Careful |
| pennies on the dollar. And, so began the journey | | | | selection and use must be made when using |
| with my Pentax LX professional line of equipment. | | | | these lenses as they can be heavier and blur |
| My photography lens arsenal was made up of | | | | photographs with the slightest movement. I would |
| many types such as wide angle, zoom, telephoto, | | | | recommend a tripod or monopod for use with |
| macro, and standard camera lenses . I had a | | | | lenses longer than 200mm. They are absolutely |
| motor drive, high end camera flash, tripods, | | | | great for sports and wildlife photography. I have |
| camera lens filters, lens hoods and more to get | | | | used anywhere from 100mm to a 500mm mirror |
| me started. As an athlete my first love was | | | | telephoto. The 500mm mirror lens was really nice |
| shooting sports which involved fast film, fast | | | | when shooting at an air show. |
| lenses, and a zoom lens. I soon fell into shooting | | | | 5. Specialty There a couple of specialty camera |
| landscapes, wildlife, and weddings. And, let me | | | | lenses that I'll talk about. The first photographic |
| say, all for free. I loved taking pictures and giving | | | | lens that is a must for close- up photography is |
| them away to people who did not understand | | | | the macro lens. This lens can come in a few focal |
| how to capture those prize memorable moments | | | | lengths that are typically less than 100mm. The |
| behind the lens. | | | | macro camera lens enables the photographer the |
| So, what makes up the chemistry of | | | | ability to shoot subjects extremely close-up such |
| photography lenses? How do they work and | | | | as flowers, insects, and commercial products. |
| when should I use one over the other? Today it | | | | These camera lenses are really fun and can |
| is so easy to get that all automatic digital SLR | | | | produce beautiful images that fill the frame with |
| camera and lens and hope that the subject turns | | | | wonderful color and detail. I have done a lot of |
| out as you thought it should. I think these | | | | macro photography and recommend that a tripod |
| automatic cameras are great. However, if you | | | | be used when shooting these subjects so that |
| understand how to utilize other photography | | | | blurring is limited. These lenses can also have |
| lenses in a manual mode you can still produce | | | | lower apertures so that long exposure under low |
| beautiful photographs. I actually have a Nikon D70 | | | | lighting can be accomplished. The other type of |
| digital SLR camera today in addition to my Pentax | | | | specialty lens is the perspective control lenses |
| LX and Nikon Coolpix pocket digital. | | | | that will take close up photographs and keep the |
| Photography Lenses Explained | | | | subject sharp in focus and prevent the depth of |
| Camera Lens Types: | | | | field from distorting the subject. I have not used |
| | | | these types of lenses so I cannot give you a real |
| 1. Wide Angle The wide angle camera lens enables | | | | life example. However, for most non-professional |
| the photographer to shoot a photograph when | | | | photographers this lens may not be worth the |
| you wish to encompass more of the subject | | | | investment. Finally, I will mention the 2x converter. |
| scene than would be possible with a standard lens | | | | This photography lens cannot stand alone but |
| such as a 50mm focal length. Wide angle camera | | | | augment another lens by boosting the focal length |
| lenses are typically a shorter focal length under | | | | by two times it's standard length. You simply add |
| 50mm and allow the photographer to change the | | | | it between the camera and your lens of choice |
| perspective of the scene. A moderate focal | | | | and the optical mirrors magnify the image by two. |
| length is about 24mm to 35mm that have | | | | I use this often outdoors shooting sports on |
| apertures of F/2 or F/2.8 which allows more light | | | | sunny days where I have a bunch of light. This will |
| in. There are also extreme wide angle lenses , | | | | boost my 300mm zoom to 600mm. And, I can |
| called fisheyes, that can produce almost a 180 | | | | get really close to my subjects from the sidelines. |
| degree photo. These photographic camera lenses | | | | Photography lenses today provides the |
| can be fun however, make sure you understand | | | | shutterbug an array of opportunities for |
| that the lens may produce a rounded image and | | | | photographic design. Depending on the type of |
| the depth of field can be limited in low lighting | | | | photographer you are, it will determine the types |
| conditions. | | | | of camera lenses you put into your camera bag. I |
| 2. Standard Standard lenses are typically the | | | | would suggest that everyone has at least a |
| 50mm lenses. These are a fixed focal length and | | | | mid-range zoom. If it is the only lens in the your |
| are the lens of choice on most SLR cameras . | | | | budget at time of purchase, you can add other |
| Everyone should have this camera lens . It | | | | camera lenses later. The 35mm - 70mm would be |
| typically will be used the most for everyday | | | | my recommendation. If you are going to shoot |
| common photography. The 50mm standard lens is | | | | athletics you will most likely be on the sidelines or |
| about what the human eye can see in the field of | | | | in the bleachers and will need up to a 300mm |
| vision. It also produces the most relative size of | | | | telephoto or zoom. Depending on your budget I |
| the subjects and objects in the photograph. This | | | | would suggest a lower aperture but nothing more |
| camera lens can be one of the fastest lenses in | | | | than F/4.0. |
| your camera bag. It can be purchased with a low | | | | Have fun and remember that you can take |
| aperture of F/1.4 which will allow for very low | | | | oodles of pictures today and test your |
| lighting photographic opportunities. | | | | photographs much easier with digital SLR |
| 3. Zoom The zoom lens is my favorite lens. This | | | | photography . If you don't like your results, delete |
| camera lens gives the photographer so many | | | | them. Then, go out and take more pictures! |
| options especially if you are not carrying two | | | | To your photographic success. |